PITTSBURGH, April 21, 2008 — The Bank of New York Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh today announced that applications are being accepted for the 2008 Pitt/BNY Mellon Jazz Scholarship.

Now in its 22nd year, the one-year, $5,000 Pitt/BNY Mellon Jazz Scholarship is awarded by a panel of nationally recognized jazz musicians on the basis of musical ability as demonstrated by an audition tape or CD that includes samplings of various musical styles. Any full-time undergraduate student who will be enrolled at Pitt during the fall 2008 semester is eligible to apply for the scholarship.

The current Pitt/BNY Mellon Jazz scholar, Ben Bromfield, is a native of Newton, Mass., and a graduate of Newton North High School. He has a repertoire that includes jazz, classical piano, and hip-hop. Bromfield is the keyboardist for The Known World and for the more production-oriented BMVz, which performs hip-hop. As a member of The Pitt Jazz Ensemble, he traveled to Jamaica last May to meet and perform for rural schoolchildren.

"The 2008 Pitt/BNY Mellon Jazz Scholarship renews support for jazz education and the Jazz Studies program at Pitt that have been hallmarks of BNY Mellon Jazz for more than 20 years," said Rose M. Gabbianelli, executive vice president and global director of public affairs for The Bank of New York Mellon.

"The Bank of New York Mellon has been a wonderful supporter of jazz, particularly jazz education. We are looking forward to awarding the Pitt/BNY Mellon Jazz scholarship again this year," said Pitt Jazz Studies director Nathan Davis.

Applications for the 2008 Pitt/BNY Mellon Jazz Scholarship must be submitted by Monday, May 12, 2008. For more information or to obtain an application, call the University of Pittsburgh Music Department at (412) 624-4187, visit www.music.pitt.edu or write to: 2008 Pitt/BNY Mellon Jazz Scholarship, 120 Music Building, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260.